Historic Mujibnagar Day today

Today, April 17, is the historic Mujibnagar Day, the day Bangladesh’s first government took oath in 1971 amid the Liberation War, a defining moment in Bangladesh’s Liberation War history.

On this day in 1971, senior Awami League leaders, who had formed the provisional government of independent Bangladesh a week earlier, assembled at Baidyanath Tala in Meherpur to take part in the oath-taking ceremony.

Later the place was renamed 'Mujibnagar' after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The administration became known as the Mujibnagar Government, also referred to as the government-in-exile.

Despite its historical importance, no governmnet programme has been arranged to mark the day.

A major tourism project centered on Mujibnagar, involving around Tk 1000 crore and covering 36 acres, remains stalled, with infrastructure and sculptures reportedly left neglected.

Following political changes in 2024, several sculptures linked to the historic site were vandalised, leaving visible damage.

Historically, the provisional government was formed on April 10, 1971, and formally took oath on April 17 in the presence of foreign journalists. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was declared President in absentia, while Syed Nazrul Islam served as Acting President. Tajuddin Ahmad was Prime Minister, supported by other key leaders.

The Mujibnagar Government led the nine-month war that resulted in Bangladesh’s independence on December 16, 1971.